Diode-like SnO2 gas detection devices

In usual chemoresistive SnO2 gas sensors, space charge accumulation at the electrodes and at intergranular contacts can contribute in the hystereses, irreproducibilities and time variations in electrical conductance which hinder the operation of these devices as transducers. For a thorough investigation of the effects of electrical polarisation, samples with highly asymmetric electrode contacts, in which polarisation is strong and which behave like diodes were used. On the other hand, we tentatively found the operation principle of a gas sensitive SnO2 device which avoids polarisation phenomena. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.